Paleobiota of Burmese amber

Burmese amber is fossil resin dating to the early Late Cretaceous Cenomanian age recovered from deposits in the Hukawng Valley of northern Myanmar. It is known for being one of the most diverse Cretaceous age amber paleobiotas, containing rich arthropod fossils, along with uncommon vertebrate fossils and even rare marine inclusions. A mostly complete list of all taxa described up to the end of 2023 can be found in Ross (2024).

Microbiota

Plants Chlorophyte green algaes Chlamydomonadales Family Genus Species Authority Year described Notes imageChlamydomonadaceaeChlamydomonas†Chlamydomonas hanublikanusHinkelman & Vršanská2020A chlamydomonadaceous green algae.Associated with Mesoblatta maxi and the ichnotaxon Blattocoprolites blattulidae

Bryophyte true mosses Dicranales Family Genus Species Authority Year described Notes imageCalymperaceae†Calymperites†Calymperites burmensisHeinrichs 'et al.2014A Calymperaceous dicranale moss†Calymperites chenianusLi in Tan et al.2025A Calymperaceous dicranale moss†Calymperites heinrichsianusLi & Wang in Li et al.2025A Calymperaceous dicranale moss†Calymperites marginatusLi et al.2025A Calymperaceous dicranale moss†Calymperites proboscideusLi in Tan et al.2025A Calymperaceous dicranale moss†Calymperites striatusLi et al.2025A Calymperaceous dicranale mossIncertae sedis†Ditrichites†Ditrichites aristatusLi in Tan et al.2025A member of Dicranales sensu lato.

Hypnodendrales Family Genus Species Authority Year described Notes imageIncertae sedis†Vetiplanaxis†Vetiplanaxis espinosusHedenäs, Heinrichs, & Schmidt2014A hypnodendralean moss†Vetiplanaxis longiacuminatusHedenäs, Heinrichs, & Schmidt2014A hypnodendralean moss†Vetiplanaxis oblongusHedenäs, Heinrichs, & Schmidt2014A hypnodendralean moss†Vetiplanaxis obtususLi et al.2022A hypnodendralean moss†Vetiplanaxis pyrrhobryoidesBell2007A hypnodendralean moss

Lycopods and spike mosses Family Genus Species Authority Year described Notes imageSelaginellaceaeSelaginella†Selaginella alataLi & Wang2022A clubmoss†Selaginella amplexicaulisA. R. Schmidt & L. Regalado2022A clubmoss of uncertain subgenus affiliation†Selaginella auritaA. R. Schmidt & L. Regalado2022A clubmoss of uncertain subgenus affiliation†Selaginella ciliiferaA. R. Schmidt & L. Regalado2022A Selaginella subg. Stachygynandrum clubmoss†Selaginella cretaceaLi et al.2022A Selaginella subg. Stachygynandrum clubmoss†Selaginella grimaldiiA. R. Schmidt & L. Regalado2022A Selaginella subg. Stachygynandrum clubmoss†Selaginella heinrichsiiA. R. Schmidt & L. Regalado2022A clubmoss of uncertain subgenus affiliation†Selaginella heterosporangiataA. R. Schmidt & L. Regalado2022A Selaginella subg. Stachygynandrum clubmoss†Selaginella isophyllaA. R. Schmidt & L. Regalado2022A Selaginella subg. Ericetorum clubmoss†Selaginella konijnenburgiaeA. R. Schmidt & L. Regalado2022A clubmoss of uncertain subgenus affiliation†Selaginella longifimbriataA. R. Schmidt & L. Regalado2022A Selaginella subg. Stachygynandrum clubmoss†Selaginella minutissimaA. R. Schmidt & L. Regalado2022A Selaginella subg. Stachygynandrum clubmoss†Selaginella obscuraA. R. Schmidt & L. Regalado2022A clubmoss of uncertain subgenus affiliation†Selaginella ohlhoffiorumA. R. Schmidt & L. Regalado2022A Selaginella subg. Stachygynandrum clubmoss†Selaginella ovoideaA. R. Schmidt & L. Regalado2022A clubmoss of uncertain subgenus affiliation†Selaginella patrickmuelleriA. R. Schmidt & L. Regalado2022A Selaginella subg. Stachygynandrum clubmoss†Selaginella pellucidaA. R. Schmidt & L. Regalado2022A clubmoss of uncertain subgenus affiliation†Selaginella tomescuiA. R. Schmidt & L. Regalado2022A clubmoss of uncertain subgenus affiliation†Selaginella villosaA. R. Schmidt & L. Regalado2022A Selaginella subg. Stachygynandrum clubmoss†Selaginella wangboiA. R. Schmidt & L. Regalado2022A clubmoss of uncertain subgenus affiliation†Selaginella wangxiniiA. R. Schmidt & L. Regalado2022A Selaginella subg. Stachygynandrum clubmoss†Selaginella wunderlichianaA. R. Schmidt & L. Regalado2022A Selaginella subg. Ericetorum clubmoss

Marchantiophyte liverworts Porellales Family Genus Species Authority Year described Notes imageFrullaniaceaeFrullania†Frullania baerlocheriHeinrichs et al.2011A frullaniacious liverwort. Frullania pinnata (2017) deemed a jr synonym.Frullania cretaceaHentschel, Schmidt & Heinrichs2009A frullaniacious liverwortFrullania kachinensisLi et al.2021A frullaniacious liverwortFrullania partitaLi et al.2020A frullaniacious liverwort†Protofrullania†Protofrullania cornigeraHeinrichs2017A frullaniacious liverwortLepidolaenaceae†Gackstroemia†Gackstroemia cretaceaHeinrichs, Schäfer-Verwimp, Feldberg, & A.R. Schmidt2017A lepidolaenacious liverwortRadulaceaeRadula†Radula cretaceaBechteler, Renner, Schäfer-Verwimp, & Heinrichs2017A Radulaceae liverwort†Radula heinrichsiiFeldberg et al.2021A radulaceous liverwort†Radula patrickmuelleriFeldberg, Schäfer-Verwimp & Renner2022A radulaceous liverwort†Radula tanaiensisFeldberg, Schäfer-Verwimp & Renner2022A radulaceous liverwort

Polypodiopsid ferns Cyatheales Family Genus Species Authority Year described Notes imageThyrsopteridaceaeThyrsopteris†Thyrsopteris cretaceaLi et al.2020A thyrsopteridacious tree-fern†Thyrsopteris cyathindusiaZhang et al.2021A thyrsopteridacious tree-fern

Polypodiales Family Genus Species Authority Year described Notes imageCystodiaceaeCystodium†Cystodium sorbifolioidesRegalado et al.2017A Cystodiacious fernDennstaedtiaceae†Cladarastega†Cladarastega burmanicaPoinar2021A dennstaedtiaceous fern †KrameropterisKrameropteris calophyllumLi in Li & Meng2025A dennstaedtiacious fernKrameropteris resinatusSchneider, Smith, & Heinrichs2016A dennstaedtiacious fernMicrolepia†Microlepia burmasiaLong, Wang & Shi in Long et al.2022A species of Microlepia.Hymenophyllaceae†Hymenophyllites†Hymenophyllites angustusLi & Wang2022A filmy fern†Hymenophyllites kachinensisLi & Wang2022A filmy fern†Hymenophyllites setosusLi & Wang2022A filmy fernLindsaeaceae†Proodontosoria†Proodontosoria myanmarensisLi et al.2020A lindsaeacious fernMarsileaceae†Marsileaceaephyllum†Marsileaceaephyllum ciliatumWang et al.2021A marsileaceous fern.Pteridaceae†Heinrichsia†Heinrichsia cheilanthoidesRegalado, Schmidt, Krings & Schneider2019A pteridacious fernIncertae sedis†Cretacifilix†Cretacifilix fungiformis Poinar & Buckley2008A eupolypod fern†Holttumopteris†Holttumopteris burmensisRegalado, Schneider, Krings, & Heinrichs2018A fern of uncertain placement

Angiosperm flowering plants Cornales Family Genus Species Authority Year described Notes imageCornaceae†EoëpigyniaEoëpigynia burmensisPoinar, Chamber & Buckley2007A cornalean flowerNyssaceae†NyssapollenitesSp. N/A2019A nyssaceous pollen morphotype

Ericales Family Genus Species Authority Year described Notes imageIncertae sedis†Phantophlebia†Phantophlebia dicyclaPoinar & Chambers2020An ericalean flower of uncertain affinities Possibly a myrsinoid Primulaceae taxon.

Laurales Family Genus Species Authority Year described Notes imageAtherospermataceae†DasykothonDasykothon leptomiscusPoinar & Chambers2020A lauralean flowering plant of uncertain phylogenetic placement.Hernandiaceae†Zygadelphus†Zygadelphus aetheusPoinar & Chambers2019A possible lauralian of uncertain phylogenetic placementLauraceae†Cascolaurus†Cascolaurus burmitisPoinar2017A lauracious angiospermMonimiaceae†Palaeoanthella†Palaeoanthella huangiiPoinar & Chambers2005A possible monimiacious angiosperm†Setitheca†Setitheca lativalvaPoinar & Chambers2018A possible monimiacious angiosperm†Thymolepis†Thymolepis toxandraChambers & Poinar2020A possible monimiacious angiosperm†Valviloculus†Valviloculus pleristaminisPoinar et al.2020A possible monimiacious angiospermIncertae sedis†Cyathitepala†Cyathitepala papillosaPoinar & Chambers2020A lauralean angiosperm of uncertain affinity†Dispariflora†Dispariflora robertaePoinar & Chambers2019A possible lauralean flower†JamesroseaJamesrosea burmensisCrepet et al.2016A mosaic laralean genus

Liliales Family Genus Species Authority Year described Notes imageLiliaceae†Mirafloris†Mirafloris burmitisPoinar2021A lilialean flower.

Nymphaeales Family Genus Species Authority Year described Notes imageNymphaeaceae†Praenymphaeapollenites†Praenymphaeapollenites cenomaniensisBarrón, Peris & Labandeira2020Pollen of a member of Nymphaeaceae.

Oxalidales Family Genus Species Authority Year described Notes imageCunoniaceae†Tropidogyne†Tropidogyne euthystylaPoinar, Chambers & Vega2021A small flowered cunoniacious angiosperm.†Tropidogyne lobodiscaPoinar & Chambers2019A cunoniacious angiosperm.†Tropidogyne pentapteraPoinar & Chambers2017A cunoniacious angiosperm.†Tropidogyne pikei Chambers, Poinar & Buckley2010A cunoniacious angiosperm.Incertae sedis†Lachnociona†Lachnociona camptostylusPoinar & Chambers2018An oxalidalean angiosperm of uncertain affinity†Lachnociona terriae Poinar, Chambers & Buckley2008An oxalidalean angiosperm of uncertain affinity

Poales family Genus Species Authority Year described Notes imagePoaceae†Programinis†Programinis burmitis Poinar2004A poalean of uncertain placementPrograminis laminatus Poinar2004A poalean of uncertain placement

Rosales Family Genus Species Authority Year described Notes imageRhamnaceae†Eophylica†Eophylica priscastellataShi et al.2022A rhamnaceous floral morphotaxonElectrophycus astroplethus Deemed a jr synonymPhylica†Phylica piloburmensisShi et al.2022A rhamnaceous floral morphotaxon.

Incertae sedis Genus Species Authority Year described Notes image†Antiquifloris†Antiquifloris latifibris Poinar, Buckley & Chen2016An angiosperm of uncertain placement†Chainandra†Chainandra zeugostylusPoinar & Chambers2020An angiosperm of uncertain placement†Chenocybus†Chenocybus allodapus Poinar2018An angiosperm of uncertain placement†Exalloanthum↑Exalloanthum burmense Poinar2018An angiosperm of uncertain placement,originally named Diaphoranthus burmensis†Lijinganthus†Lijinganthus revoluta Liu et al.2018A core eudicot of uncertain placement†Micropetasos†Micropetasos burmensis Poinar, Chambers, & Wunderlich2004An angiosperm of uncertain placement†Rasenganus†Rasenganus auricularusXing & Gu2020A possible epizoochorous fruit.†Strombothelya†Strombothelya monostylaPoinar & Chambers2019An angiosperm of uncertain phylogenetic placement†Strombothelya grammogynaPoinar & Chambers2019An angiosperm of uncertain phylogenetic placement

Fungi

Ascomycota

Hypocreales Family Genus Species Authority Year described Notes imageClavicipitaceae†Palaeoclaviceps†Palaeoclaviceps parasiticusPoinar, Alderman & Wunderlich2015An ergotOphiocordycipitaceae†Paleoophiocordyceps†Paleoophiocordyceps coccophagusSung, Poinar & Spatafora2008A parasite of a scale insectIncertae sedis†Entropezites†Entropezites patriciiPoinar & Buckley2007A hypermycoparasitic fungus †Mycetophagites†Mycetophagites atreboraPoinar & Buckley2007A hypermycoparasitic fungus

Ophiostomatales Family Genus Species Authority Year described Notes imageOphiostomataceae†Paleoambrosia†Paleoambrosia entomophilaPoinar & Vega2018An ambrosia fungus associated with Palaeotylus femoralis.

Basidiomycota Agaricales Family Genus Species Authority Year described Notes imageIncertae sedis†Palaeoagaracites†Palaeoagaracites antiquusPoinar & Buckley2007An agaric of uncertain placement within the Agaricales

Boletales Family Genus Species Authority Year described Notes imageSclerodermataceae†Palaeogaster†Palaeogaster micromorphaPoinar, Alfredo & Baseia2014A gasteroid fungus belonging to the Boletales

incertae sedis Family Genus Species Authority Year described Notes imageSpheciophilaceae†Philothysanus†Philothysanus burmanicusPoinar 2021An ectoparasitic fungus†Spheciophila†Spheciophila aderciaPoinar2016An ectoparasitic fungusIncertae sedis†Palaeomycus†Palaeomycus epallelusPoinar2018A fungus belonging to the Pezizomycotina

Rozellomycota Microsporidia Family Genus Species Authority Year described Notes imageIncertae sedisMicrosporidium†Microsporidium burmanicumPoinar2019A microsporidian fungus